Africa’s wealth landscape in 2025 reveals a continent teeming with economic dynamism and entrepreneurial resilience. From the sprawling cities of Lagos and Johannesburg to the bustling corridors of Cairo and Nairobi, African billionaires are carving their empires across industries like cement, telecoms, mining, finance, luxury goods, and technology. These moguls are not just accumulating wealth—they’re redefining Africa’s position in global markets through industrial innovation, digital transformation, and strategic investments that stretch across borders.
The Forbes 2025 list of Africa’s richest individuals showcases 23 billionaires whose combined fortunes total over $100 billion. While Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt remain strongholds of billionaire activity, the emergence of figures from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Morocco, and Kenya signals a shift toward a more geographically diverse representation of wealth. Notably, these billionaires aren’t just heirs of legacy wealth—they’re builders and risk-takers who’ve capitalized on opportunities, often under challenging regulatory and economic conditions.
What sets many of these billionaires apart is their growing commitment to shaping Africa’s future. Several are investing heavily in energy, infrastructure, education, and youth empowerment. Others are leveraging technology to close service gaps, modernize industries, and generate employment on a massive scale. This list isn’t just about money—it’s a snapshot of the individuals actively rewriting Africa’s economic story in boardrooms, policy rooms, and on the ground. Let’s take a closer look at the 23 titans currently defining African wealth in 2025.
1. Aliko Dangote – $23.9 B (Nigeria)
Source of wealth: Cement, sugar, flour, salt, and oil via the Dangote Group. Established Dangote Cement in the 1980s.
List debut: Appeared over a decade ago; consistently #1 since around 2013.
Recent notable: Nearing completion of Africa’s largest oil refinery in Lagos (650,000 barrels per day). Continues investing in petrochemicals and infrastructure. His ambition is to reduce Africa’s dependency on imported refined fuel.
2. Johann Rupert – $14 B (South Africa)
Source: Luxury goods through Richemont (brands like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels), plus investment holdings.
List debut: A fixture in the top three for years, often alternating ranks with fellow South Africans.
Recent developments: Richemont’s strong performance in Asia and Europe has bolstered Rupert’s net worth. He also channels wealth into conservation, notably protecting elephant habitats in southern Africa.
3. Nicky Oppenheimer – $10.4 B (South Africa)
Source: Diamond mining via De Beers (family held stake until 2012).
List debut: Rose to the top early in the 2000s. Since selling to Anglo American, he’s stayed near the top through investments and philanthropic work.
Recent endeavors: Backing nature conservation and embracing private equity; his philanthropic Oppenheimer Generations Foundation focuses on education and research in Africa.
4. Nassef Sawiris – $9.6 B (Egypt)
Source: Construction and chemicals via OCI N.V., plus investments in Adidas and Adidas’ supplier Santin (Apparel sector).
List debut: Entered the top 10 in mid-2010s and climbed steadily.
Recent moves: Underwriting global bets like Doritos maker Frito‑Lay related deals. Also involved in a refinery acquisition in Europe and plans to diversify into energy and logistics.
5. Mike Adenuga – $6.6 B (Nigeria)
Source: Telecoms (Globacom) and oil (Conoil).
List debut: Became Nigeria’s richest man around 2014 after Glo’s rapid growth.
Recent highlights: Glo expanding into West Africa; Conoil spin‑offs still profitable. Adenuga is building a private philanthropic arm supporting education across Nigeria.
6. Abdulsamad Rabiu – $5.1 B (Nigeria)
Source: Cement, sugar, and real estate via BUA Group.
List debut: Emerged mid-2010s as Dangote’s closest rival; moved into billionaires list in 2017.
Recent: BUA’s cement plant acquisition solidified its position. Rabiu is also investing heavily in Lagos nightlife and property.
7. Naguib Sawiris – $5 B (Egypt)
Source: Telecom (Orascom), media, and tourism.
List debut: One of Egypt’s first billionaires post-2000.
Notable: Owns TV networks, hotels, and had a high-profile political influence during Egypt’s Arab Spring. Now focusing on renewable energy and regional tourism.
8. Koos Bekker – $3.4 B (South Africa)
Source: Media and e‑commerce via Naspers (which owns massive Tencent stake).
List debut: Made the list circa 2014 when Naspers stock ballooned.
Recent: Naspers pivoting away from traditional print into fintech and education. Bekker, retired, mentors tech startups and invests in educational reform.
9. Mohamed Mansour – $3.4 B (Egypt)
Source: Diversified holdings via Mansour Group—automotive (Caterpillar, Mercedes distribution), retail, and fuel.
List debut: A fixture since the early 2010s.
Recent: Expanded into East Africa; Mansour reports record automotive sales across continent—focusing on Egypt and Ethiopia.
10. Patrice Motsepe – $3 B (South Africa)
Source: Mining via African Rainbow Minerals; also football via CAF.
List debut: First joined around 2009, after mining stocks surged.
Recent: Elected CAF president, pledging to grow African football’s commercial footprint. His mining group is deploying ESG principles across operations.
11. Issad Rebrab – $3 B (Algeria)
Source: Cevital Group (sugar, oil, manufacturing, retail).
List debut: Became a billionaire in early 2010s after scaling Cevital.
Recent: Despite political instability, acquired Renault Algiers plant; aiming to establish Algeria as North Africa’s manufacturing hub.
12. Mohammed Dewji – $2.2 B (Tanzania)
Source: MeTL Group (textiles, beverages, agribusiness).
List debut: Youngest African billionaire in 2014.
Recent: IPO plans for MeTL, early in-roads in tech distribution. Awarded Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2022 for youth empowerment and job creation in East Africa.
13. Michiel le Roux – $2.2 B (South Africa)
Source: Capitec Bank—low-cost, mobile-friendly banking.
List debut: Entered in late 2010s as Capitec grew into SA’s largest retail bank.
Recent: Le Roux retired executive but remains active through venture firm Curro. Capitec expanding into broader digital financial services.
14. Othman Benjelloun – $1.6 B (Morocco)
Source: BMCE Bank and insurance investments.
List debut: Long-time list member since the 2000s.
Recent: Continues to consolidate regional banking operations across Francophone Africa while investing in green finance and fintech.
15. Anas Sefrioui – $1.6 B (Morocco)
Source: Mass housing construction via Addoha Group in Morocco and Africa.
List debut: Joined list in mid-2010s.
Recent: Pivoted toward affordable housing for youth, collaborating with Moroccan gov’t on social housing initiatives.
16. Aziz Akhannouch – $1.5 B (Morocco)
Source: Akwa Group (petrochemicals, gas, chemicals).
List debut: Became a billionaire after privatization of Morocco’s energy assets.
Recent: Appointed prime minister in 2021—a rare blend of political and business power. Launched energy transition projects in Morocco.
17. Jannie Mouton – $1.5 B (South Africa)
Source: PSG Group (financial services, education, agriculture).
List debut: Rose around 2015 after PSG’s IPO.
Recent: PSG is funding startup ecosystems and agri-tech across Africa; Mouton is a vocal advocate for inclusive growth.
18. Femi Otedola – $1.5 B (Nigeria)
Source: Oil trading, power generation (GenCos), and banking stake.
List debut: Rose to billionaire status mid-2010s.
Recent: Sold part of his oil cargo business to boost renewables; supported Nigeria’s green energy transition and digital finance.
19. Christoffel Wiese – $1.5 B (South Africa)
Source: Retail—Shoprite, Pep Store empire.
List debut: Became a billionaire during Shoprite’s 2000s expansion.
Recent: Lost billionaire status briefly amid divorce but holds ~20% in Pepkor, which went safe post-buyout by Steinhoff. Known for savvy restructuring moves.
20. Youssef Mansour – $1.5 B (Egypt)
Source: Mansour Group’s consumer-distribution (Procter & Gamble, GM, Philip Morris).
List debut: Family has dominated Egypt’s list since 2010.
Recent: Launched local packaging plants, entered e-commerce food delivery; seen as the Group’s innovator in retail tech.
21. Yasseen Mansour – $1.2 B (Egypt)
Source: Real estate via Palm Hills Developments.
List debut: Joined the list with Palm Hills’ IPO in 2016.
Recent: Developing luxury housing and mixed-use projects in Egypt, with expanded ventures in Saudi real estate.
22. Strive Masiyiwa – $1.2 B (Zimbabwe)
Source: Econet Wireless (telecoms), digital tech, fintech, and green energy.
List debut: Africa’s leading telecom billionaire since 2010.
Recent: Focused on fintech in Nigeria, renewable energy mini-grids in rural Zimbabwe, and African education initiatives through his foundation.
23. Benard Odote – $1 B (Kenya)
Source: Agritech, logistics, and tech investments in East Africa.
List debut: First-ever billionaire from Kenya in 2025.
Notable: Known for founding Twiga Foods, a supply-chain startup that modernizes produce distribution. A rising star, often cited as an “African Elon Musk” for agritech innovation.
Noteworthy Mention
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Strive Masiyiwa deserves special attention—not just for his telecom empire but for pioneering fintech and rural electrification, blending business with social impact across the continent.
Each of these 23 individuals represents not only immense wealth but also embodies major sectors shaping Africa’s economic future, including industrialization, digital finance, infrastructure, consumer goods, and energy transformation.